Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What does “royalty-free” mean?
2. Do I need a model / property release?
3. When I buy a photo, who owns the copyright?

1. What does “royalty-free” mean?

Royalty-free images may be used by you multiple times for multiple projects without incurring additional fees. Royalty-free pricing is based solely on the file size of the product you need, not the specific use. You don't have to pay any additional royalties on a use-by-use basis. However, as with all Wine Country Creations licenses, the rights granted are non-transferable and are personal to you. This means that if you license an RF product to be used in a derivative work by your client or any other person, they may not use the licensed product separately from the derivative work. Royalty-free licenses are always non-exclusive. All licenses of royalty-free products are subject to Wine Country Creations Royalty-Free License Agreement.

2. Do I need a model / property release?

Most of the photos on this website were originally photographed for editorial use by a magazine, newspaper or book project and because news photos don't need model or property releases, most of them, unless otherwise noted, do not come with them. Obviously, if you are purchasing a photo of yourself or your property, you do not need a release. And generally if you are using the image in a news story, you do not need a release. It becomes trickier if you are planning on using the images for some sort of advertising. For more information on model and property releases, visit this webpage.

3. When I buy a photo, who owns the copyright?

Unless, we have a prior written agreement, I retain the copyright for all images I photograph which means that I am able to reuse and resell the images. Please see the license agreement for more information.